Alstroemeria plant named &#39;KONCALUCKY&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Alstroemeria  plant named ‘Koncalucky’, characterized by its compact and mounding plant habit; sturdy and strong plants; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate; freely branching habit; numerous white and dark pink-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

Alstroemeria hybrida

CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

‘KONCALUCKY’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Alstroemeria plant, botanically known as Alstroemeria hybrida, typically grown as a container-type garden Alstroemeria and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Koncalucky’.

The new Alstroemeria plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact container-type garden Alstroemeria plants that have an early and freely flowering habit with attractive leaf and flower coloration.

The new Alstroemeria plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands in October, 2007 of a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code designation 20446-1, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code designation 07-0-RD, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Alstroemeria plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands in November, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Alstroemeria plant by in vitro rhizogenesis in a controlled greenhouse environment in Nieuwveen, The

Netherlands since December, 2011 has shown that the unique features of this new Alstroemeria plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Koncalucky’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Koncalucky’ as a new and distinct Alstroemeria plant:

-   -   1. Compact and mounding plant habit.     -   2. Sturdy and strong plants.     -   3. Vigorous growth habit and rapid growth rate.     -   4. Freely branching habit.     -   5. Numerous white and dark pink-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria are much more compact than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and the female parent         selection differ in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection have solid pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Alstroemeria differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower color as plants of the male parent selection have red purple and yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Alstroemeria can be compared to plants of the Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Koncasweet’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 24,302. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands, plants of the new Alstroemeria differed from plants of ‘Koncasweet’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter leaves than plants         of ‘Koncasweet’.     -   2. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had shorter inflorescences         than plants of ‘Koncasweet’.     -   3. Plants of the new Alstroemeria were more freely flowering         than plants of ‘Koncasweet’.     -   4. Plants of the new Alstroemeria had slightly smaller flowers         than plants of ‘Koncasweet’.     -   5. Plants of the new Alstroemeria and ‘Koncasweet’differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Koncasweet’ had white and red-colored         flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Alstroemeria plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Alstroemeria plant. The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Koncalucky’ grown in container. The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Koncalucky’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants of the new Alstroemeria grown during the winter and spring in 19-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Nieuwveen, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial container-type Alstroemeria production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 30° C. and night temperatures ranged from 6° C. to 16° C. Plants were 20 weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Alstroemeria hybrida ‘Koncalucky’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Alstroemeria hybrida identified as code designation 20446-1,             not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Alstroemeria             hybrida identified as code designation 07-0-RD, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—In vitro rhizogenesis.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshy; typically white in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.         -   Rhizome description.—Shape: Elongate; rounded. Length: About             5.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm. Texture: Smooth. Color:             Close to 161D. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial garden plant; compact and             mounded; freely branching habit, bushy appearance; sturdy             and strong plants; vigorous growth habit; rapid growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 20 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm. -   Stem description:     -   -   Aspect.—Mostly upright.         -   Internode length.—About 7 mm to 11 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color.—Close to 144D. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; below the peduncle, arranged in a             single whorl; leaves sessile.         -   Length.—About 2.8 cm to 9.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.3 cm to 2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Venation pattern.—Parallel.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             137B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A;             venation, close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137C; venation, close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single cup-shaped flowers arranged in             compound umbels; flowers face upright to outwardly; freely             flowering habit with up to 15 flowers developing per             inflorescence and about 60 to 110 flowers developing per             plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering continuous from the late             spring until the autumn in The Netherlands; early-flowering             habit, plants begin flowering about 10 to 18 weeks after             stem initiation.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one to three weeks,             longevity is temperature-dependent; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower longevity as a cut flower.—About one to two weeks,             longevity is temperature-dependent; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 4 cm to 5 cm. Diameter: About             1.7 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Color: Close to 58A and 155A; apex and             base, close to 144A.         -   Umbel height.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Umbel diameter.—About 11.5 cm to 13.5 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.4 cm to 5.8 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 5.3 cm to 5.6 cm.         -   Perianth.—Arrangement: Six arranged in two whorls, each             whorl with two lateral and one median segments. Size, inner             perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.1 cm. Width,             lateral segments: About 1.8 cm. Length, median segment:             About 5.4 cm. Width, median segment: About 1.8 cm. Size,             outer perianth: Length, lateral segments: About 6.1 cm.             Width, lateral segments: About 2.9 cm. Length, median             segment: About 5.7 cm. Width, median segment: About 2.9 cm.             Shape, inner perianth, lateral and median segments:             Oblanceolate. Shape, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Obovate. Apex, inner perianth, lateral and median             segments: Acute. Apex, outer perianth, lateral and median             segments: Emarginate, wishbone-shaped. Base, inner and outer             perianths, lateral and median segments: Attenuate. Margin,             inner and outer perianths, lateral and median segments:             Crenulate. Texture, inner and outer perianths, lateral and             median segments: Smooth, glabrous. Luster, inner and outer             perianths, lateral and median segments: Matte, dull. Color,             inner perianth: When opening and fully opened, lateral             segments, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 155C,             and at the apex, close to 138A; mid-section, close to 10C;             towards the base, close to 35C; spots and stripes, close to             N34A and N34B; color does not fade with subsequent             development. When opening and fully opened, lateral             segments, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to 155C,             and venation, close to 138A; mid-section, close to 10C,             towards the base, close to 35C and N34A; color does not fade             with subsequent development. When opening and fully opened,             median segment, upper surface: Towards the apex, close to             155C, and at the apex, close to 138A; towards the base,             close to 64D, and at the base, close to 138A; color does not             fade with subsequent development. When opening and fully             opened, median segment, lower surface: Towards the apex,             close to 155C, and at the apex, close to 138A; towards the             base, close to 64D, and at the base, close to 138A; color             does not fade with subsequent development. Color, outer             perianth: When opening and fully opened, lateral segments,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 155C, and at the             apex, close to 138A; mid-section, close to 618; towards the             base, close to 54C, color does not fade with subsequent             development. When opening and fully opened, lateral             segments, lower surface: Towards the apex, close to 155C,             and at the apex, close to 138A; mid-section and towards the             base, close to 59D; color does not fade with subsequent             development. When opening and fully opened, median segment,             upper surface: Towards the apex, close to 155C, and at the             apex, close to 138A, mid-section, close to 61B; towards the             base, close to 54C; color does not fade with subsequent             development. When opening and fully opened, median segment,             lower surface: Towards the apex, close to 155C, and at the             apex, close to 138A; mid-section and towards the base, close             to 59D; color does not fade with subsequent development.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 0.9 cm to 3.1 cm. Diameter: About 2             mm to 3 mm. Strength: Strong. Angle: Erect to about 70° to             80° from vertical. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 144A tinged with close to 183B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.             Anther shape: Oval. Anther size: About 2 mm by 6 mm. Anther             color: Close to 152D. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 197B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 7 cm. Style length: About 4.3 cm. Style color:             Close to N66C. Stigma color: Close to 58A. Ovary color:             Close to 14613 tinged with close to 183A.         -   Fruits and seeds.—Fruit and seed development has not been             observed on plants of the new Alstroemeria. -   Disease & pest resistance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Alstroemeria plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Alstroemeria have been     observed to have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain     and temperatures ranging from about 6° C. to about 35° C. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Alstroemeria plant named ‘Koncalucky’ as illustrated and described. 